I've struggled through the first 25 minutes. So far he's just talked about Caitlyn Jenner having a massive penis, how he's not a bigot... because... and how rich he is. Can't say I'm holding out much hope for the rest.

I've struggled through the first 25 minutes. So far he's just talked about Caitlyn Jenner having a massive penis, how he's not a bigot... because... and how rich he is. Can't say I'm holding out much hope for the rest.

If I am to make it through the whole thing it certainly won't be in one sitting.

Has he ever done anything decent without Merchant?

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It's always been the suspicion that while Gervais can write good comedy (jokes and that uncomfortable cringey style) Merchant holds him back from his more self-indulgent tendencies and gives a real beating heart to projects. The obvious exception was Life's Too Short, which was as awful as it was self-indulgent for me. For Gervais on his own I really liked Animals and Politics, didn't mind Fame and thought Science was quite poor. I didn't mind bits of Derek but otherwise his later TV and film work was not for me.

I think Gervais is a funny, clever comic writer/performer who has played on his innate ability to get reactions from people; positive, negative and some strange combination of the two. Since he's tried to crack America I've found his output increasingly off-putting, as though where his stuff used to be made for me and my friends to enjoy (I'm aware it wasn't, but that was the magic of the early work) he's creating with the broad American market in mind.

People move on, both creators and audiences, but I'll certainly give Humanity a fair crack of the whip.

One thing I don’t like about comedians is the way they use all the material from their shows on talk shows. Sometimes they go off script and it can be amazing (see Kevin bridges on would I lie to you) but it’s usually just the same scripted shite alluding to jokes in their routine.

I thought it was absolutely horrendous.. Almost surprisingly so (thought he’s obviously been on a downward curve since Extras) Both as “comedy”, and as just general stand up. There’s almost no actual jokes, just him going on aimless rants about how offensive he thinks he is, without actually being all that offensive. He’s no Jerry Sadowitz or Anthony Jelasnik as a dark insult comic. He just says vaguely dodgy things (usually already outdated things - hey 2015 called, they want their Caitlin Jenner material back) then laughs at how vaguely dodgy they are, and the fact that some people might get offended by them. He’s always punching down, but more importantly, not that well.

The first half is just him taking about his old Golden Globe material, and at one point he actually attempts to explain his own “joke” about Caitlin Jenner (yawn) not doing much for women drivers, and why it’s actually “really clever”... Comedy masterclass folks.

As great as he once was (Office, Extras and Animals) he’s an incredibly tiresome blowhard these days.

I thought it was absolutely horrendous. Both as “comedy”, and as just general stand up. There’s almost no actual jokes, just him going on aimless rants about how offensive he thinks he is, without actually being all that offensive. He’s no Jerry Sadowitz or Anthony Jelasnik. He just says vaguely dodgy things (usually already outdated things - hey 2015 called, they want their Caitlin Jenner material back) then laughs at how vaguely dodgy they are, and the fact that some people might get offended by them. He’s always punching down, but more importantly, not well.

At one point he actually attempts to explain his own “joke” about Caitlin Jenner not doing much for women drivers, and why it’s actually “really clever”... Comedy masterclass folks.

As great as he once was, he’s an incredibly tiresome blowhard these days.

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That's the thing that irritates me most about him. Even on Twitter he comes across as thinking that the reason people dislike him is because he offends/triggers the snowflakes (felt sick typing those last few words) when in reality it's simply because he's annoying.

He is only rich because a show he was in was popular. His solo stuff is absolute shite... in fact it isn't even as good as that because occasionally having a shite is fun.

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He's sells out every solo tour he goes on, can hardly be shite, and he's hosted the Globes how many times? He's just not to your personal taste.
As I said earlier, I've loved him ever since the 11 o'clock show. His views on animal rights, politics, religion are also bang on too. He's a great bloke.

He's sells out every solo tour he goes on, can hardly be shite, and he's hosted the Globes how many times? He's just not to your personal taste.
As I said earlier, I've loved him every since the 11 o'clock show. His views on animal rights, politics, religion are also bang on too. He's a great bloke.

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Of course he can still be shite. Since when is popularity a mark of quality? Some of the worst music, films and comedians are the most popular. We're talking about a world where Michael McIntyre is one of the planet's most successful comedians.

Of course he can still be shite. Since when is popularity a mark of quality? Some of the worst music, films and comedians are the most popular. We're talking about a world where Michael McIntyre is one of the planet's most successful comedians.

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That's the whole point, if 70% of people think something is great and you think it's shite... is it shite? or do you just have different taste @sullydnl.

I think McIntyre is horrific, but obviously to a shite load of English people he's funny as hell.

Gervais has done some great shows, was awesome on 11 o'clock show, extras, The Office, The Ricky Gervais Show. Idiot abroad is great and he was funny as feck on the GG's, add to that he's has had a couple of superb stand up tours and his CV is pretty fecking varied and impressive. If you don't like him, you probably have "shit" taste.

He's a funny bloke, but since his success he's vanished so far up his own arse that much of his humour has lost any kind of self-awareness. I think twitter has made him a lot worse, because he simultaneously has instant access to all the people fawning over him as well as those who are "offended" so he can think it's a job well done. He probably sees less of those that used to like his stuff but think he's become something of a bellend.

That's the thing that irritates me most about him. Even on Twitter he comes across as thinking that the reason people dislike him is because he offends/triggers the snowflakes (felt sick typing those last few words) when in reality it's simply because he's annoying.

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Yeah. I mean, I agree with him politically on most things. It’s rare that I think he’s ever actually out of order. He’s just not nearly funny enough. His whole schtick these days seems to be that people who don’t find him funny just aren’t “in” on the joke. But there rarely is a joke. It’s just him trying to be offensive and thinking that’s the joke.

There’s a bit in this about dead babies, for example. But there’s no structure or actual writing around it. It’s just “imagine if I had a baby and it died. And id have to text my Mrs and tell her. Imagine that!? Hahahahaha” ...There’s no joke. It’s just him thinking it’s inherently funny to say kind of (but not really) riskey things like that. You can tell a good dead baby joke. There are genuinely good dead baby jokes out there. He doesn’t even try and write one.

Oh, and then he ends the bit by being racist. Because why not. People will find that offensive, and then he can claim thats the point. Or something.

Agree with Mockney on this one, he's tiresomely unfunny in his attempts to offend. I mostly sat there blinking and not once did he ever come close to telling anything that resembled a joke. He wishes he was Stewart Lee basically.